Publisher’s Weekly has announced that they will begin “showcasing” self-published books in a “special” quarterly supplement — for a price. That price includes only a listing and brief book description, no review unless you’re one of the few the staff deems “worthy.”

Worthy? I’ve read plenty of highly acclaimed traditionally published books that I found unworthy of the paper they were printed on. A book’s worth is in the mind of the reader and I don’t like someone telling me what’s worth my time (which is why I seldom pay attention to reviews). This new “acceptance” of self-publishing by Publisher’s Weekly is no better than a back-handed compliment.

Yet, maybe Independent Authors are asking for it.

It’s well known that there is no love loss between Independent Authors and traditionally published authors, but there is one thing I don’t see amongst traditionally published authors that is rampant among indie authors. They don’t quibble over how a book is produced. Among indie authors there is hot debate (and a lot of derogatory words flung from both sides) over whether a POD author can be considered self-published or not.

Who cares?! Isn’t it the quality that matters? Crap is crap regardless of whether you’re a self-published author, POD author or traditionally published author and readers know that. Perhaps if Independent Authors — ALL INDEPENDENT AUTHORS — would stop bickering over whose method is better and start doing a better job of producing a high quality product we would gain the respect our hard work deserves instead of being told by someone else that we have to pay to be included in a second-class supplemental with no guarantees of being reviewed.

I say it’s high time all Independent Authors stand together and march forward with quality products in hand on The Road to Writing.